1923 Yankee Stadium Opening Day programme

The 1923 Yankee Stadium Opening Day programme is a rare vintage sporting programme, and one of the most sought after by baseball memorabilia collectors.

Background

The first incarnation of Yankee Stadium, home to the New York Yankees baseball team, was situated in the area of New York City known as the Bronx. It opened on April 18 1923 and was home to the Yankees until the last game in September 2008 (with a break from 1973 – 1976 for redevelopment, during which time they shared Shea Stadium with the New York Mets).

The New yankee Stadium, built across the street from the previous stadium, was opened in April 2009.

The original stadium was known as ‘The House that Ruth Built’ after the legendary Yankees player Babe Ruth, whose popularity brought huge attendances during the early 1920s and facilitated the need for a new stadium.

During the game Ruth hit three home runs, and the bat he used (the ‘Louisville Slugger’) sold for more than $1 million in 2004.

The 1923 Yankee Stadium Opening Day souvenir programme

The cover of the programme features the Yankees owners Col. Jacob Rupert and Col. T. L. Huston, who had purchased the team in 1915. Inside are a number of articles including information about the how the new stadium was built, biographies of the owners and the team’s business manager Edward G. Barrow and the history of the team and the American baseball League itself.

It also features photographs of the championship-winning Yankees team, a team roster for the game against the Boston Red Sox and directions to the stadium on the back.

The programme has been reprinted several times, and the majority of copies found for sale are the reproduction programme issued in 1976 when the stadium reopened after refurbishment.

How much is a 1923 Yankee Stadium Opening Day programme worth?

Original copies of the programme are highly rare and sought after by collectors. The price depends heavily on the condition of the programme, and prices can range from $3,000 upwards.

In October 2008 Heritage sold a worn copy of the programme for $3,883.

In 2010 Robert Edwards Auctions sold a good condition copy for a price of $14,100.